Skoda Karoq first drive | not to be overlooked

The Skoda Karoq is one of those cars that is easily forgotten. Despite being Skoda’s best-selling car, it sort of flies under the radar – and it’s a shame because it’s really rather good.

Nestled between the smaller Kamiq and larger Kodiaq in Skoda’s line-up, the family SUV competes with sector heavyweights like the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai, but achieves just over a third of their sales.

Perhaps its overlooked for having less daring styling, or by drivers who think the Kia and Nissan badges have greater appeal. Certainly, from a running costs perspective the Karoq is a stand-out option. There’s no hybrid or electric model, so drivers can’t enjoy the associated benefit-in-kind tax savings, but at a starting price of £26,260 there’s no comparable electrified option.

Like most of the Skoda range, the Karoq is a derivative of Volkswagen Group’s versatile MQB platform, but is most closely related to the Seat Ateca medium SUV.

The long wheelbase for its size of 2,638mm (identical to the Ateca) ensures there’s plenty of room inside, and luggage capacity ranging from 521 to 1,630 litres is also good.

For those that need dependable and user-friendly family transport, the Karoq seems to be the best of the bunch at this price point. It’s got folding tray tables in the back and tablet holders build into the seats, to keep kids occupied on long journeys. There’s acres of storage space around the cabin and everything is made of sturdy, no-nonsense plastics that feel like they’ll stand the test of time.

The updated Karqo is available with four engine options; three petrol and two diesel. The petrol range consists of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI unit that develops 110PS, a four-cylinder 1.5-litre TSI motor that produces 150PS and a range-topping 2.0-litre TSI 190PS with all-wheel-drive. The diesel line-up features a 2.0-litre unit with outputs of 116PS and 150PS. As with the petrol range, the higher power unit can be ordered with a seven-speed DSG. The 2.0 TDI can also be specified with four-wheel-drive.

The 1.0 TSI emits 132g/km of CO2 and achieves 48mpg, while the 1.5 TSI manages 46mpg and emits only a tad more CO2 (138g/km). The diesels are the most frugal, returning close to 60mpg, with CO2 emissions of less than 130g/km.

As a driver’s car, the Karoq provides a sturdy, assured feel. Its controls are light, but precise. We were especially impressed by the 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine, which delivers 150PS and offers a high level of refinement while sipping very little fuel. On a steady run it’ll get close to 50mpg and, in real-world driving, we’d expect it to be no less frugal than the 1.0-litre TSI.

The latest model has been given a mild facelift, sharpening the look and adding new technology. A digital instrument cluster is now part of the standard specification as are LED headlights and sat nav.

SE Drive models start from £26,255 and come equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, and rear parking sensors as standard.

SE L models are well suited for company car drivers, with the likes of keyless entry, heated seats and a rear-view camera. Prices start at £28,090.

SportLine models are more distinctive. They start from £32,570 and feature Full LED Matrix headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED interior light pack and a panoramic sunroof. Metallic paint and an electrically operated boot and virtual pedal are also standard.

The Karoq may not be the most dynamic or stylish model in its class, but it's among the cheapest to run and sits close to the segment best in many areas. The only area for improvement would be the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain to sweeten its fleet appeal.

Specification shown for Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI SE L